Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday held a high-level meeting with Union Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi on the issues related to coal mines in Jharkhand.
Soren discussed the issue to operationalize several coal mines in Jharkhand like Rajmahal-Taljhari, Hurra and Siyal coal projects. Chief Minister apprised the minister about the official position of Jharkhand on the issue of land acquisition, compensation, rehabilitation of the displaced along with their job and the share of Jharkhand in the royalty. The minister assured Soren to take appropriate action on his demand. CM said that as the coal companies like CCL, BCCL, ECL acquire land for coal production hence the state government has decided that 75 percent of total jobs in coal mines should be given to local residents. he also said that local residents should be given preference for contractual works. He said such moves will encourage the participation of local people in mining works. He said that a contract worth Rs one crore should be given to local residents.
About the Rajmahal-Taljhari project, the coal minister informed him about the problem being faced in operationalizing the coal mines. Minister said that if this coal mine is not operationalized ECL will have to shut down. The coal minister assured once Rajmahal-Taljhari mines become operational the tender worth Rs One crore will be reserved for local residents for the next two years. He assured in the future other coal companies will give preference to local residents in tender work worth Rs one crore.
Chief Minister said that coal companies don't make proper provisions for rehabilitation of families who got displaced following land acquisition for the mining project. He said that coal companies shift them from one place to other. Besides, he said that acquired land remains unutilized and such land should be returned to ryots.
JMM's Rajmahal MP Vijay Hansda who was also present in the meeting said that displaced families face problems in getting residence certificates after they are displaced since they don't have valid documents. He said that coal companies must give them settlement papers.